Moving Sucks, part 3: Cleaning

There are interesting race conditions when moving. You need to get everything out, but you need some of the stuff in order to get out. You also need some stuff just to live.

When do you sell the bed? If you sell too soon, you won't have anything to sleep on. If you sell too late, there's always the danger that you won't get rid of it. (Even if you negotiate with the buyer, the buyer might flake out.)

When do you pack the towels? Presumably you will want to take showers after the truck leaves, unless you are going to leave the second after the van moves.

Moving the second after the van moves is a compelling idea, but nicer in theory than in practice, since it is far easier to clean once all the boxes and furniture are out. Moving also creates its own schmutz. The movers left behind some tape, some box sheddings, and also some muddy footprints that I needed to clean up.

The van left on Tuesday at about 3 PM. Jim thought we would leave Tuesday afternoon. We left our house at 11:30 PM on Thursday, and we didn't even get very far -- we spent the night at a friend's about twenty miles away. It was important to Jim that we sleep somewhere besides our home. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. It might be a very small step to San Carlos, but at least it's a step."